Dry Run of Cashless Toll Collection at CAVITEX Begins

The PEA Tollway Corporation, operator of the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (CAVITEX), started its dry run for 100% cashless toll collection at its toll plazas on Saturday. Motorists passing through CAVITEX in Parañaque and Kawit, Cavite, are required to have Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) stickers installed on their vehicles. There will be no cash lanes available during the dry run.

Motorists without RFID stickers will face fines of P1,000 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second, and P5,000 for subsequent violations. The same penalties apply for using tampered or fake RFID devices. If a motorist has an RFID but an insufficient balance, fines start at P500 for the first offense, increasing to P2,500 for further violations.

Some motorists have expressed concerns about the cashless system. Taxi driver Christopher mentioned that the cost of installing RFID is burdensome for drivers with uncertain earnings. Another motorist, Mang Carlos, called for the retention of cash lanes for those who don’t frequently use the expressway.

It is unclear when the dry run will conclude. Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista has postponed the full implementation of the revised toll guidelines to October 1, 2024.